The Italian island of Lampedusa, one of the main entry points into Europe for illegal immigrants crossing the Mediterranean, recorded a total of 5,112 arrivals in the last 24 hours, a new record.
On Tuesday, 110 landings were recorded carrying more than five thousand migrants on the small Sicilian island, which is closer to the African coast than the Italian peninsula itself, and since 00:00 this Wednesday a further 23 boats carrying almost a thousand migrants have arrived, many of them waiting in port, because the reception center of Lampedusa (“hot spot”), which can accommodate 400 people, is completely overcrowded and has about six thousand migrants.
According to Italian media, there is a real traffic jam at the port of Lampedusa, and rescuers and the Red Cross are unable to cope with the flow, prompting Lampedusa mayor Filippo Mannino to call on the far-right government led by Giorgia Meloni to take “extraordinary measures” such as army intervention.
“We’ve never seen anything like this before, with dozens and dozens of small vessels being escorted or associated with rescue units in front of the port, as well as others that may arrive directly,” he said, noting that these are “numbers that are not more sustainable on this island,” so “army intervention” is necessary.
In one early morning operation this Wednesday by the Coast Guard, some of the 46 migrants on the boat fell into the water and were rescued, but a five-month-old newborn drowned and his body was found recovered.
A total of 116,028 migrants have landed in Italy since the start of the year, more than double the 63,498 in the same period last year, according to the latest official figures published by the Home Office.
Lampedusa, a small island of 20 square kilometers with a population of about six thousand, is Italy’s southernmost point and has become one of the main entry points into Europe for illegal migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan countries, who cross the Mediterranean on unstable ships. management. human trafficking networks from Libya and Tunisia.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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